In this episode of our podcast, Lucas Hendrich, CTO at Forte Group, sat down with John Higginson, CTO at Curriculum Associates, to talk about how AI is changing the way we build software and teach students. They covered everything from the rise of speech-based assessment tools to why AI literacy is becoming non-negotiable for engineers. Here’s a recap of their conversation.
- AI That Helps Teachers, Not Replaces Them
LH: What’s your approach to using AI in education products?
JH: We start with one question: is this good for teachers and good for student outcomes? If it doesn’t pass that test, we don’t do it. We acquired SoapBox Labs to help with reading assessments by using speech AI to give teachers insights into how a student reads aloud. But we also had to make sure it respected student privacy, which is non-negotiable.
- Engineers Should Know How to Use AI—Like They Use Google
LH: How do you think about AI readiness in your teams?
JH: Engineers who know how to get the most out of AI are the ones with experience and context. Saying “I don’t need AI” today is kind of like saying “I don’t need Google” back in the day. It’s just part of how we work now.
- Make Space to Try Things
LH: What’s the best way to introduce new tools and practices to your team?
JH: You can’t mandate change and expect it to stick. We give people space to explore—whether through hackathons, internal demos, or lightweight experiments. It makes it safer to try something new and fail fast. The key is to stay curious.
- Not All Tech Debt Is Bad
LH: How do you balance innovation with legacy systems?
JH: Every company has tech debt. Some of it’s there for a reason—it works and doesn’t need to change. Other times, the cost of keeping it around is too high. The trick is knowing which is which and evolving incrementally, not just for the sake of modernization.
- Personalizing Learning Without Losing the Human Touch
LH: Kids are already using LLMs to get homework help. How do you see that fitting into your product vision?
JH: We believe in personalized learning, but it needs structure. A student might be in fifth grade but reading at a second-grade level. GenAI can help tailor content, but it has to be rooted in where the student actually is. And it should support the teacher, not replace them.
- Leadership Is More About People Than Tech
LH: How has your non-traditional background shaped your leadership?
JH: I studied literature and law before becoming a CTO. And honestly, the most important part of this job isn’t picking the right language or framework—it’s communication. Whether you’re talking to the board or 400 engineers, you need to tell the story of where you're going and why it matters.
- AI Is Shaping How We Build, Not Just What We Build
LH: How is AI changing the development lifecycle?
JH: We’re using AI to speed up tests, build quick prototypes, and free up engineers to focus on meaningful work. But it’s not about replacing roles—it’s about working differently. We’re still figuring out how to balance this experimentation with real deadlines.
- For the Next Generation: Be Curious, Not Just Technical
LH: What advice would you give someone just starting out in tech?
JH: Learn how to learn. The tools will change. The stacks will change. What doesn’t change is the need to break down problems, collaborate, and stay curious. That’s what makes great engineers, whatever their title ends up being.
Stay tuned for more conversations at the intersection of technology, product, and growth on CTO2CTO.
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